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The beluga known as Jelly Bean’s daughter Bertie Botts is an cute small “playful character”. Orion – called “Onion Ring” – is a large but guardian-like companion. Zephyr has “constant motion” and wiggles like a worm. Lillooet is the “biggest cuddle bug” with a heart of gold.

Thirty enclosed beluga whales in a Canadian amusement park have become pawns in a tussle between a closed attraction, public officials and animal rights activists.

But those working directly with the whales say the impassioned controversy over their destiny often overlooks the nuances of the whales who, after spending their lives in confinement, have been thoroughly researched by the humans who work with them regularly.

After the national authorities prevented the transfer of the belugas to a foreign facility, the struggling facility near the famous falls where they are housed stated it would consider to put them down unless the federal government funds the cost of their care. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that demand, placing the 30 whales in an dangerously unstable circumstance.

Highly Cognitive Marine Mammals

Experts say that beluga whales’ neuroanatomy, along with their vocal imitation skills, cognitive challenges and communal behavior suggest they are deeply intelligent creatures – something a former trainer discovered personally.

She spent several years as a marine mammal specialist, a role that required building relationships of the marine predators.

“Building up those relationships over time takes a lot of consistency and a lot of affection. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Over time, you gain shared confidence. And they start being more vulnerable with you. It’s just so extraordinary and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were exceptionally cognitive, but she says she was even so surprised by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their characters. She cultivated a deep bond for a pair of whales with opposing personalities.

“One whale chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Both altered the way I understand connection.”

Public Concerns and Facility Decline

Burgess’s interaction with the whales developed against a backdrop of increasing societal concern to their confinement.

During her tenure at the park, seven belugas and the park’s single orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, 19 belugas have perished at the park since 2019, a statistic which the facility links to natural mortality, but which activists say indicates the inadequate care in which they were maintained.

The park did not admit visitors to the guests over the summer, but Burgess says she observed directly effects of the closure. “Concrete is breaking off from the enclosures because they’re degrading and not being repaired. The whales are curious and so they pick it up and navigate with fragments in their jaws. It’s heartbreaking to see.”

The park did not reply to a inquiry, but earlier claimed: “The whales … receive far higher quality health care and 24/7 attention than any individual in the Britain, or other places.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

The former employee was fired from the park in recent months following the death of a beluga, an sick beluga the park staff had to euthanize. She said the park thought particulars of the incident were leaked to the news outlets and she was released soon after.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ future has left her and other caretakers in despair. She says the park’s warning to euthanize its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” undertaking, adding any attempts to euthanize even a single beluga would require “considerable manpower”, equipment and specialized tools.

“It cannot happen in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess backs calls for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its deteriorating pools and dwindling staff.

In late September, Canada’s government official rejected a bid to export the whales to an overseas location.

“Allowing the application would have meant a perpetual existence in enclosure and a reversion to display for amusement,” the official stated. “As Canadians, we know that marine mammals should be in the ocean, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in good conscience authorize an transfer that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But Burgess said the official’s comments indicate a broader misunderstanding of the facts of existence for belugas born in captivity.

“The public needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need ongoing assistance for the remainder of their lives,” she said. “People just don’t understand that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As officials work to find a solution, proposals have surfaced, some of which have little basis in reality. One proposal called for the belugas to be freed into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a primary resource of sustenance for Inuit communities.

A proposed sanctuary in the region of Nova Scotia, which has received government approval, has been highly debated. The future facility, which includes 100 acres of protected cove, doesn’t yet exist. Proponents remain positive that it could ultimately represent a sustainable solution for a number of the whales.

But, the former trainer says, among caretakers she’s discussed with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “only an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Others say the possibility of a refuge indicates a broader global shift away from zoos and aquariums and could represent a feasible solution in the coming months.

The project lead, director of the sanctuary project, said the site will mimic the cognitive activities and feeding regimen the whales get from trainers, albeit in a significantly bigger space. He said after the well-being of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|